A councilman in South Bend, Ind. - located a two-hour drive east of Chicago - is coming under fire for comments made about an LGBT community group - i.e. "those people" - in a video posted on that council's website. The video shows David Varner describing his opposition to an LGBT job protections bill. more ›

A few months back, Karl reviewed how to prepare for jury duty. And we later learned one way to get out of jury duty is to be President of the United States. Well, Railton Loy of South Bend, Indiana recently showed us another way to get out of it: declare you're a member of the KKK. According to the South Bend Tribune: more ›

Just in time to cash in on the opening of “Public Enemies” this week, the site of John Dillinger’s last bank robbery shootout in South Bend, Indiana is up for sale. The historic State Theatre formerly known as the Blackstone Theatre Vaudeville House still bears bullet marks from the over 100 bullets that flew during gunfight between police and Dillinger’s gang in the 1934 robbery of Merchant Bank. The shootout left one police officer dead and eight people wounded as the gang made off with $30,000. more ›

A new ad campaign rolled out on 25 Chicago buses this week that aims at giving atheists, agnostics and non-believers the same voice on public transportation that other religions have used for years. The Chicago slogan, which has been seen on buses running from the North to South Side of Chicago, including downtown reads: “In the Beginning, Man Created God.” more ›

Olympic athletes, sports writers, and now simple towns folk: no matter who you are, it seems the gods are against you when it comes to just unwinding with some Phish and weed. This time, Mother Nature played the NARC. Those gusty winds we dealt with yesterday were also felt in South Bend, Indiana where they somehow tripped a home security system off at a residence. Police responded to the call but upon arrival, while they found no signs of a security problem, their police dog sensed drugs on the premises. Sure enough, the police uncovered "19 marijuana plants and 40 grams of processed marijuana." No one has been arrested but prosecutors are considering charges against the homeowner. more ›

Apparently, Jesus has a wicked sense of humor or simply nothing better to do these days than to appear in the fur of a South Bend kitten. No word on how Jesus Cat will affect the impending disappoint that is the 2008 Notre Dame football team. more ›

More details are emerging about the Tinley Park murders from this weekend. In addition to the five women who died, one woman was shot but survived and gave police a description of the gunman, who is still at large. Lane Bryant is offering $50,000 reward for information that leads to the shooter's arrest. more ›

On a weekend where gratefulness is foremost on our minds, it’s unfortunate that crime keeps moving forward. We’ll lead off with one story for which we can be thankful is not all bad news:Remember Nicolas Orbovich, the concert violist whose 1892 instrument worth $100,000 was stolen from the back seat of his unlocked car in a Michigan City, Indiana, Wal-Mart parking lot? It’s been found, with the help of Lake Station, Indiana, pawn shop, Orbovich’s... more ›

Anyone walking out an about today surely came across the fans of the USC Trojans. The Trojans play Notre Dame today in South Bend, and it seems like many of their fans decided to make a three-day weekend and fit in some shopping in Chicago. While walking down Michigan Avenue, Chicagoist could barely keep count the number of people sporting crimson and gold. The two teams will meet for the 79th time today with Notre... more ›

Sex, and sex-related desires and activities, seems to be one of the most common ways people can get themselves into trouble. Some people just lose their heads when it comes to getting their freak on. So please, try to be smart about sex, and about spoiled milk. more ›

We've all been hung out to dry with no way to get home, left in some remote location with seemingly no other option than an expensive cab ride. Your boyfriend got stuck at work and couldn't pick you up from the airport, and you have too much luggage for the train. You missed the last Metra train of the night and it's either $50 to Waukegan or sleeping on the grimy floor of the station. Annoying as these situations may seem, home is still within reach, not as bad as, say, being stuck in South Bend with no way to get home but your bike. more ›

Chicagoist has seen its share of the stupid this week, but there’s always enough stupid to go around with a little bit left over. There’s not much left over, but we do what we can. There’s always next week. more ›

Either the cleverest or the most ridiculous criminal ever is on the loose, gallivanting about the Indiana countryside trying to pass off oven doors as flat screen TVs. more ›

One of the great benefits of the Chicago's Skyway's 99-year lease agreement with a private group is the implementation of a series of long-needed "duh" improvements to the toll bridge. In February variable rates for trucks were implemented, and starting next month automobile drivers will have three lanes where they can use I-Pass to pay the $2.50 toll, helping to eliminate the inevitable long backups. more ›

Former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson allegedly beat his wife in a South Bend, Indiana hotel room this weekend. According to police, he was charged after he "physically tossed his wife, Alicia, against the wall in a fit of rage." In South Bend at the time of the incident to attend a Notre Dame Board of Trustees meeting, he was forced to resign from the board on Monday following the incident. After playing collge football... more ›